We're So Excited!
The new, deluxe, expanded and totally cool Grand Folk Railroad is here!
Grand Folk Railroad is the Long Island-based folk quartet with multiple-musical-personality-disorder.
With a big voice that's deeply rooted in old school country, you might expect honky-tonk inspired tales of love and loss from the group's lead singer and songwriter, Susan Cohen. But there's an edge and a sense of sophistication that quickly become apparent as the stories and melodies in Susan's finely-crafted songs reveal themselves.
This talented group of multi-instrumentalists also has an annoying habit of breaking into obscure, forgotten 60's pop gems with a variety of instruments including acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, ukuele, upright, electric and Ashbory (rubber stringed) bass, and a one-of-a-kind suitcase drum kit.
With a make-every-note-count approach to performing, a vast, eclectic repetoire and a sometimes questionable regard for folk music traditions, Grand Folk Railroad blurs the lines between folk, pop, rock and singer/songwriter genres.
Click on the tabs and learn more about the band, find out where they're playing next, hear samples from their latest CD True North, and check out some live performance footage.
Gig Calendar
March
23 Friday
The Spoon
Lindenhurst, NY
7:30-10 PM
April
21 Saturday
Roast Coffe
Patchogue, NY
7:30 PM
29 Sunday - Susan & Mike
doing the singer/songwriter thing
Bellmore Library
Bellmore, NY
2 PM
May
6 Sunday
Walk for Psoriasis
Bronx Botanic Gardens
Bronx, NY
8AM
18-20 Montauk Music Festival
Various venues throught the weekend
Montauk, NY
We recommend:
Long Island Guitar Repair
Frank Doris
Lead Guitar & Bass
Frank Doris is one of GFR's two newest members. He's also a guy who knows how to take a good song to the next level with beautifully melodic touches and the ability to bring on the burn when needed. A guitar player since the year after the Summer of Love, Frank has played in a variety of bands and diverse situations, including an opening slot for Duran Duran on their first-ever U.S. tour. Frank's musical influences include Roy Orbison, Les Paul, Blue Öyster Cult, Kraftwerk, Roy Buchanan, Gary Wilson, Frank Zappa, Neil Young, Thelonious Monk, Love, the Kinks, Roxy Music, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Dionne Warwick, James Brown, Merle Haggard and Shonen Knife (he also has a disproportionate affection for off-the-wall 1960s and 1970s pop).
Frank
Bill Resvanis Percussion
Bill Resvanis is the other newest member of GFR. With more groove than a box of Motown platters and a knack for playing what just feels right, Bill is the guy who manages to pull together all of the band's musical elements while also taking the audience along for the ride. As an accomplished percussionist who has been playing for more than 45 years, Bill has graced hundreds of stages. Career highlights include gigs with Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Shirelles, The Classics, Ben E King and at the 1964 Worlds Fair. Bill's influences include Hal Blaine, Ringo, Louie Bellson, Art Blakey and Jim Keltner.
Mike Christian
Bass, Lead Guitar
& Drums
Mike Christian is the guitar playing drummer who is often found performing alongside Susan with a bass in his hand when the two are performing as a duo. In addition to being a true multi-instrumentalist, Mike also produced and engineered GFR's newest CD release, Sympatico, and co-wrote several of the songs. Mike is also known for the broad spectrum of sounds that he coaxes out of his one-of a-kind suitcase drum kit (also known as the drum-sicle, drum-set-on-a-stick and 'WTF' is that?) and his pocket-sized, rubber-stringed Ashbory bass.
Susan
Bill
Susan Cohen
Guitar, Flute, Banjo & Uke
When it comes to pinning down a style and genre, singer/songwriter Susan Cohen isn't easy to classify. With a big voice that's deeply rooted in old school country, you might expect honky-tonk inspired tales of love and loss. But there's an edge and a sense of sophistication that quickly become apparent as the stories and melodies in Susan's finely-crafted songs reveal themselves. By combining these elements, Susan has developed a songwriting style that is unique, compelling and that transcends what listeners expect from those who wear the singer/songwriter moniker.
Mike
